A newly struck print of Fred Zinnemann’s moving and beautifully shot 1977 Academy Award nominee Julia will be screened as part of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences‘ “Great To Be Nominated” series on Tuesday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Producer Richard Roth, screenwriter Alvin Sargent, actress Lisa Pelikan, editor Walter Murch, and director Fred Zinnemann’s son, Tim Zinnemann, will participate in a post-screening panel discussion.
Based on Lillian Hellman’s autobiographical book Pentimento, Julia stars Jane Fonda — in what may well be her finest performance — as playwright Hellman, who becomes entangled with the anti-Fascist politics of her bosom buddy Julia during World War II. Vanessa Redgrave is outstanding in the title role, deservedly winning a best supporting actress Oscar. (Though she caused a commotion during the 1978 ceremony by attacking "a small bunch of Zionist hoodlums" [who had protested her nomination] during her acceptance speech.) Redgrave, by the way, is the only performer to have won a supporting Academy Award for playing the title role in a movie.
Overall, Julia received 11 Academy Award nominations, winning Oscars for Actor in a Supporting Role (Jason Robards), Actress in a Supporting Role (Vanessa Redgrave), and Writing – Screenplay based on material from another medium (Alvin Sargent). The film also received nominations for Actor in a Supporting Role (Maximilian Schell), Actress in a Leading Role (Jane Fonda), Cinematography (Douglas Slocombe), Costume Design (Anthea Sylbert), Directing (Fred Zinnemann), Film Editing (Walter Murch), Music – Original Score (Georges Delerue) and Best Picture (Richard Roth, producer).
Also, future multiple Oscar-nominee (and two-time Oscar winner) Meryl Streep (left, with Jane Fonda) has a small role in the film.
Faith Hubley, John Hubley, and Garry Trudeau’s Oscar-nominated animated short Doonesbury Special will be screened before the feature.
Passes for all the screenings in part four of “Great To Be Nominated” will be available starting April 2 at a cost of $30 for the general public and $25 for Academy members and students with a valid ID. A $5 discount is available for those who wish to renew their passes from part one, two or three of the series. Tickets for the first four individual screenings will be available starting April 9 at a cost of $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members and students with a valid ID. Passes and tickets may be purchased by mail, in person at the Academy during regular business hours or, depending on availability, on the night of the screening when the doors open at 6:30 p.m. Curtain time for all features is 7:30 p.m., and pre-show elements will begin at 7 p.m. The Academy is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. For more information, call (310) 247-3600.
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